Vacuum cleaner equipped with sound cancellation generator

ABSTRACT

A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing, a suction generator having a motor and a sound cancellation generator. During operation of the apparatus the motor produces a first sound and the sound cancellation generator produces a second sound. The second sound produced by the sound cancellation generator is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the first sound so that noise generated during operation of the floor cleaning apparatus is reduced.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/615,779 filed on 4 Oct. 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the floor care equipment field and, more particularly, to a floor cleaning apparatus equipped with a sound cancellation generator so as to provide more quiet operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Floor care cleaning equipment such as canister, upright and handheld vacuum cleaners as well as extractors have long been known in the art. Such equipment is generally equipped with a suction generator including a fan and cooperating drive motor. Some of the devices are also equipped with a separate drive motor for a rotary agitator. Still further, self propelled units are equipped with an additional unit drive motor.

During operation of the floor care cleaning equipment the motor or motors generate a significant amount of sound or noise. The present invention relates to a floor cleaning apparatus equipped with a sound cancellation generator to allow for more quiet operation as well as to a method for reducing operating noise in a floor cleaning apparatus or appliance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, a floor cleaning apparatus is provided. The floor cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a suction generator including a motor that is carried on the housing and a sound cancellation generator. The suction generator motor produces a first sound during operation of the floor cleaning apparatus. The sound cancellation generator produces a second sound during operation of the floor cleaning apparatus. The second sound is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the first sound so that noise generated during operation of the floor cleaning apparatus is reduced.

More specifically describing the invention the sound cancellation generator includes a controller and a sound transducer. Further the sound cancellation generator includes a sound sensor for detecting an amplitude A and frequency F of the first sound. The controller is responsive to detected amplitude and frequency signals from the sound sensor. The sound transducer is responsive to the controller to then produce a second sound having an amplitude of substantially A and a frequency of substantially F, substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the first sound.

In accordance with additional aspects of the present invention the housing may include a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. The canister assembly may be pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet. In one possible embodiment a rotary agitator is carried on the nozzle assembly adjacent the suction inlet.

Still further the floor cleaning apparatus may include a dirt collection vessel carried on the nozzle assembly and the canister assembly. In one possible embodiment the dirt collection vessel takes the form of a porous dust bag. In another possible embodiment the dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup. That dirt cup may include a cylindrical dirt collection chamber and a tangentially directed inlet. Further a first filter may be provided in the dirt cup. A second filter may be provided downstream from the suction generator.

In accordance with additional aspects of the present invention the floor cleaning apparatus may include a wireless control interface. The wireless control interface includes a control actuator, a transmitter connected to the control actuator, a receiver remote from the transmitter and a CPU connected to the receiver.

The floor cleaning apparatus may also include a control handle and wand assembly displaceable between a first, floor cleaning position wherein the handle and wand is carried on the housing and a second, remote cleaning position wherein the handle and wand assembly is removed from the housing. In such an embodiment the control actuator and the transmitter may be carried on the control handle and wand assembly.

In the following description there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the wand assembly withdrawn from the canister assembly to allow for above floor cleaning;

FIG. 3 illustrates a dirt cup of cylindrical construction including a tangentially directed inlet and a centrally located filter so as to provide for cyclonic airflow;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the wireless control interface provided on the floor cleaning apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematical block diagram showing the suction generator motor and the sound cancellation generator held in a single housing.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention relates to an upright vacuum cleaner 10 including a housing comprising both a nozzle assembly 12 and a canister assembly 14. The canister assembly 14 is pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly 12. The upright vacuum cleaner 10 rides over the floor surface being cleaned on wheels 15 carried on the housing.

The nozzle assembly 12 includes a suction inlet 16. A rotary agitator 18 carried on the nozzle assembly 12 is mounted in the suction inlet 16. The rotary agitator 18 includes bristle tufts 20, brushes, wipers or the like to beat dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying carpet being cleaned as the agitator 18 is rotated at high speeds with respect to that carpet and the nozzle assembly 12.

The canister assembly 14 includes a dirt collection vessel 22 housed in an internal cavity 23. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the dirt collection vessel 22 is a filter bag of permeable filter material adapted to entrap dirt and debris while allowing the passage of clean air through the bag. In an alternative embodiment the dirt collection vessel 22 may take the form of a dirt cup 24. As illustrated in FIG. 3, such a dirt cup 24 may include a cylindrical dirt collection chamber 26 having a tangentially directed inlet 27 and an axial outlet 28. Such an arrangement promotes cyclonic airflow in the chamber 26 which efficiently removes dirt and debris from the airstream in a manner well known in the art. A filter 30 may be concentrically mounted within the dirt collection chamber 26 over the outlet 28. Such a filter 30 strips any remaining fine dirt and debris from the airstream as it moves through the filter toward the outlet 28.

The canister assembly 14 also includes a telescopic wand assembly generally designated by reference numeral 32. The wand assembly 32 includes first and second telescopic wand sections 34, 36. The second wand section 36 is telescopingly received in the first wand section 34. The wand sections 34 and 36 are connected together by a wand lock, generally designated by reference numeral 38, that is carried on the end of the section 34. A control handle 40 having a hand grip 42 is provided at the end of the first wand section 34 opposite the wand lock 38. The end of the second wand section 36 opposite the wand lock 38 is received in a connector 44 mounted to the rear of the canister assembly 14. A flexible hose 46 extends from the control handle 40 to the inlet 48 connected to the dirt collection vessel 22.

During standard floor cleaning operation, the rotary agitator 18 scrubs and beats dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying carpet being cleaned. A suction generator 50 carried on the housing draws air entrained with that dirt and debris through the suction inlet 16, the connector 44, the wand section 36, the wand section 34, the control handle 40, the hose 46 and the inlet 48 into the dirt collection vessel 22. The dirt and debris is captured in the vessel 22 while relatively clean air is drawn over the motor of the suction generator 50 in order to provide cooling. That air is then exhausted through a final filter 53 and returned to the environment through an exhaust port 54.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 the wand assembly 32 includes a distal end that is removable from the canister assembly 14 to allow manipulation and specialty cleaning. More specifically, the distal end of the wand section 36 is removable from the connector 44. The telescopic sections 34, 36 of the wand assembly 32 may then be retracted or extended as desired to produce a wand of desired length. The wand assembly 32 is then manipulated by the operator through the control handle 40. In this mode of operation air including dirt and debris is drawn into the open distal end of the wand assembly 32. That air then travels through the wand section 36, the wand section 34, the control handle 40, the hose 46 and the inlet 48 into the dirt collection vessel 22. There the dirt becomes trapped and clean air then passes over the motor of the suction generator 50 before being exhausted through the final filter 52 and exhaust port 54 into the environment.

The operation of the suction generator 50 and rotary agitator 18 are controlled by the operator through manipulation of the control actuator or user interface 60 provided on the control hand grip 42. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the control actuator 60 is connected to a transmitter 62 through a control line 63. The user selected control setting is transmitted (see action arrow A) by the transmitter 62 to one or more remote receivers 64 provided in the nozzle assembly 12 and/or the canister assembly 14. The receiver 64 is connected to the controller/CPU 66 of the vacuum cleaner 10 through the signal line 68. Thus, the user selected setting information signal is passed from the receiver 64 to the controller 66 along the line 68. The controller 66 then sends control signals to the motor 80 of the suction generator 50, the motor 82 of the rotary agitator 18 and/or the self propulsion motor 84 so that both operate in accordance with the user selected settings.

The vacuum cleaner 10 of the present invention is characterized by relatively quiet operation. This is achieved by equipping the vacuum cleaner 10 with a sound cancellation generator, generally designated by reference numeral 100 (see FIG. 5). The sound cancellation generator 100 includes a controller 102, a sound sensor 104 and a sound transducer 106. The sound cancellation generator 100 functions to produce a sound wave that partially or completely cancels the sound generated by the motor of the suction generator 50 during vacuum cleaner operation.

More specifically, during vacuum cleaner operation, the motor of the suction generator 50 turns the fan to generate suction for drawing dirt and debris into the vacuum cleaner. Simultaneously the motor of the suction generator 50 produces a first sound. That sound may be characterized as having an amplitude A and a frequency F. The sound wave 110 produced by the suction generator motor is schematically illustrated in FIG. 5.

The sound cancellation generator 100 functions to produce a second sound that is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the first sound. More specifically, the sound cancellation generator 100 produces a second sound wave 112 schematically illustrated in FIG. 5. The second sound wave 112 has an amplitude A and a frequency F substantially equivalent to the amplitude A and frequency F of the first sound wave 110 generated by the suction generator motor but also substantially 180 degrees out of phase with that first sound wave. The additive effect of the first and second sound waves 110, 112 produces a significant reduction in the operating noise of the vacuum cleaner 10 thereby providing for more quiet operation.

More particularly describing the operation of the invention, the sound sensor 104 detects the amplitude and frequency of the first sound generated by the motor of the suction generator 50 and sends appropriate amplitude and frequency signals to the controller 102. The controller 102 responds to the detected amplitude and frequency signals and substantially instantaneously sends a frequency amplitude and phase signal to the sound transducer 106. The sound transducer 106 responds to the control signals of the controller 102 to produce the second sound having an amplitude of substantially A and a frequency of substantially F all substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the first sound. The resulting cancellation effect between the first sound wave 110 produced by the suction generator motor and the second sound wave 112 produced by the sound transducer 106 of the sound cancellation generator 100 substantially reduces the operating noise of the vacuum cleaner 10.

In an effort to enhance the noise suppression it should be appreciated that both the suction generator motor and the sound cancellation generator 100 may also be mounted in a sound dampening compartment 114 of the housing of the vacuum cleaner (i.e. either in the nozzle assembly 12 or canister assembly 14). Such a compartment 114 may be lined with acoustical insulating material.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, while the sound cancellation generator 100 is illustrated and described as cancelling the sound generated by the motor of the suction generator 50, the sound cancellation generator could just as easily be utilized to cancel sound generated by a separate agitator drive motor and/or self propulsion motor if the vacuum cleaner 10 is so equipped. Further, multiple sound cancellation generators 100 could be provided on a single vacuum cleaner 10 if desired.

The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiment do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims and their fair and broad interpretation in any way. 

1. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a housing; a suction generator including a motor carried on said housing, said motor producing a first sound during operation of said floor cleaning apparatus; and a sound cancellation generator producing a second sound during operation of said floor cleaning apparatus, said second sound being substantially 180 degrees out of phase with said first sound whereby noise generated during operation of said floor cleaning apparatus is reduced.
 2. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound cancellation generator includes a controller and a sound transducer.
 3. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein said sound cancellation generator further includes a sound sensor for detecting an amplitude A and frequency F of said first sound.
 4. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 3, wherein (a) said controller is responsive to detected amplitude and frequency signals from said sound sensor and (b) said sound transducer is responsive to said controller to produce said second sound having an amplitude of substantially A and a frequency of substantially F, substantially 180 degrees out of phase with said first sound.
 5. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein said housing includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly.
 6. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein said canister assembly is pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly.
 7. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein said nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet.
 8. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 7, further including a rotary agitator carried on said nozzle assembly adjacent said suction inlet.
 9. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 8, further including a dirt collection vessel carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly.
 10. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein said dirt collection vessel is a porous dust bag.
 11. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup.
 12. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein said dirt cup includes a cylindrical dirt collection chamber and a tangentially directed inlet.
 13. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 12, further including a first filter provided in said dirt cup.
 14. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 13, further including a second filter provided downstream from said suction generator.
 15. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 14, further including a wireless control interface.
 16. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 15, wherein said wireless control interface includes a control actuator, a transmitter connected to said control actuator, a receiver remote from said transmitter and a CPU connected to said receiver.
 17. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 16, further including a control handle and wand assembly displaceable between a first, floor cleaning position wherein said handle and wand is carried on said housing and a second, remote cleaning position wherein said handle and wand assembly is removed from said housing and wherein said control actuator and said transmitter are carried on said control handle and wand assembly.
 18. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 9, further including a wand assembly including a wand, a control handle and a flexible hose wherein said wand assembly is displaceable between a first, floor cleaning position wherein said wand is carried on said housing and a second, remote cleaning position wherein said wand is removed from said housing.
 19. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 18, further including a wireless control interface.
 20. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 19, wherein said wireless control interface includes a control actuator, a transmitter connected to said control actuator, a receiver remote from said transmitter and a CPU connected to said receiver. 